Despite state law, bilingual ed popular in two schools

State records show that in the 1999-2000 school year, 61 percent
of the 224 Capri students classified as English learners opted for
bilingual instruction. At Paul Ecke-Central, 75 percent of the 181
English learners enrolled in bilingual classes.

As a whole, 36 percent of students learning English in the
Encinitas school district received bilingual instruction.

The district ranks third highest among 20 North County school
districts for the percentage of students in bilingual classes.

In contrast, the Oceanside Unified School District has no
bilingual program although the state classifies 5,256 of its
students as English learners.

The Oceanside district has been recognized nationally for record
gains its English learners have made since the passage of Prop.
227.

Oceanside Superintendent Ken Noonan said he thinks schools
should not be entitled to awards if students in bilingual programs
are not learning English and can't compete on the SAT-9.

"I'm a little incredulous that people want it both ways," he
said.

Because a bilingual program may affect a school's ability to
receive benefits, Noonan predicts some parents and educators might
"pull away" from bilingual programs.

Encinitas school officials don't see that happening.

"Our district philosophy is we believe that all children should
learn," school board President Bill Parker said. "Where it's a
well-developed bilingual program, kids learn better than in an
(English) immersion program."

If English learners spend time learning and thinking in English,
they are distracted from grasping complex concepts they could more
readily understand in their native language, Parker said.

Doson, from the Department of Education, agreed.

"These kids are faced with the issue of not only learning
English but trying to keep up with academics in other subjects at
the same time," he said.

Encinitas officials point to improved scores on the SABE as
evidence that students are learning under the bilingual
program.

In 1999, second-graders at both schools took the SABE in
reading, math, language and spelling. At Capri, 60 percent scored
above the 75th percentile in all subjects. A year later, the same
students as third graders improved their scores so that 74 percent
scored above the 75th percentile.

Paul Ecke-Central's SABE scores show a similar pattern.

Noonan from Oceanside disagreed.

"If you're in a true English immersion program, most of those
kids would pass the test and schools would not have to worry about
the percentage of students (excused from testing)," he said.

In light of the state policy that has disqualified Capri and
Paul Ecke-Central from the state's awards program, Parker said he
will encourage Latino parents to permit their children to take the
SAT-9.

"We will strongly encourage as many of our students as possible
to take the (SAT-9)," he said. "We really don't want to be in this
position again."